The various families of the Clan Fergusson in Strathardle and
Glenshee had each their own patronymics to distinguish them. Thus the old
Fergussons of Balmacrochie were always known as MacAdi - Sons of Adam, of
Wester and Easter Cally; MacAonghais - M 'Angus, or M'Innes, of Glenbrierachan
; Mac- Fhionnlaidh - M'Finlay, of Balnacult, in Straloch ; MacFheargkuis Dhuibh
- Sons of Black Fergus, of Downie ; MacRobi - M 'Roberts ; whilst the Glenshee
Fergussons, who were of the Downie family, were Clann Fheargkuis Dhunie - Clan
Fergus of Downie[Sketches of the Early History, Legends, and Traditions
of Strathardle, by Charles Fergusson published in the Transactions of the
Gaelic Society of Inverness, Vol XXI, p. 100, 1899]

AYSON

It has been suggested that the Aysons were a sept of Clan Fergusson
and descended from 'Fergusius filius Ade' who in the time of David Bruce was
sometimes in partnership with "Robert son of Duncan of Atholl", a farmer of
Crown thangaes. Fortingall was one of those thanages, and in Fortingall to this
day there are traditions about "MacAoidh" who was a mighty man of valour who
among other deeds of daring caught a waterkelpie on Athbrannaidh.....In the
invasion of Angus in 1391 John Ayson, junior, was associated with Robert of
Atholl, the old partner of Fergus and with the sons of the Wolf of
Badenoch.[Records of the Clan and Name of Fergusson,
Ferguson and Fergus - Supplement, by James Ferguson and Robert Menzies
Fergusson, Edinburgh, 1899. pp.18-19]

Ayson. The
Aysons were settled in Tullymet. It is probably the same name as Esson, but in
either form, it is now quite extinct in Atholl.

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Ayson

Perth 3

Easson

Perth 33

Forfar 22

Fife 14

Aberdeen 3

England 2

Griffith's Valuation

Ayson

None

Easson

None

FARIS, FARRIS

This has been used in Connacht and adjacent areas for Fergus. It is
mainly found in Leitrim and Cavan. Fr. Livingstone informed that in Co. Donegal
Farris is an anglicized form of Ó Fearaigh. See Fairy, Ferris and
Paris.[MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland. ]

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Faris

Wigtown 1

Ireland 1

Farris

Stirling 1

Griffith's Valuation

Faris

Cavan 26

Leitrim 9

Antrim 4

Armagh 4

Down 3

Farris

Carlow 7

Derry 4

Sligo 3

Longford 1

Donegal 1

FARQUHAR, FARQUHARSON

These names are associated with
Clan Chattan and as such are not
sept names of Clan Fergusson. They are mentioned here because Farquharson and
Fergusson have a similiar pronunciation that could have led to genesis of a
present day Ferguson line as a result of a clerical error. It is not hard to
imagine an immigrant to the new world when an official asked his name replied
Farquharson but the official wrote Ferguson

FERCHARSON, FERCHARDSON

FERCHARSON - Treated as synonymous with Ferguson in Barbados records
of the Alleyne family. e.g.
Betham (1803)
writes FERGUSON but Brandow et al (1983)
write FERCHARSON. There are a few instances of baptisms of the name in
Inverness, Nairn and Angus.

FARQUHARSON - The son of Farquhar. Shaw Fercharson was chief of the
MacPhersons in 1450. He was the great-grandson of Ferchar, from whom he derived
his surname. [Patronymica Britannica]

FERGIE, FERGEY

FERGIE. A reduction of FERGUSON, q.v. Patrick Fergie in c, 1671, and
four more in the same record (Lauder). In 1508 Fergy. [George F Black.
The Surnames of Scotland. ]

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Fergie

Midlothian 2

West Lothian 1

Lanarkshire 1

Ayr 1

Fergey

None

Griffith's Valuation

Fergie

None

Fergey

Down 3

Antrim 1

Belfast 1

Tyrone 1

FERGUS

FERGUS G. Fearghus, MG. Feargus, Fergus, OIr. Fergus (grandfather of
St Columba). The names is cognate with Cymric Gwr-gwst, Old Bret. Uuorgost, and
Pictish Forcus. The Pictish form is also found on the inscribed monument found
at St Vigeans in Angus, and the writer of the unique Gaelic charter of 1408
writes it Fercos. In the list of Pictish kings (CPS., p.7,8) it is also written
Urguist, Wirguist, and Wrguist. It means "super choice," from *Ver-gustu-s, the
suffix being the same as in the personal name ANGUS, q.v. It is now rare as a
surname having been corrupted to Ferries, etc. James Fergus, burgess of
Culross, 1582 (Pitfirrane, 776). See MACFERRIES and MACKERRAS. [George F
Black. The Surnames of Scotland.

FERGUS Ó Fearghuis (fear, man - gus, vigour). The name
of two Connacht septs: (a) a medical family with the O'Malleys and (b) an
ecclestical family in Leitrim. The name has become Ferris in Kerry. See
More Irish Families;[MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland. ]

FERGUSHILL

Fergushill was the surname of an old family, now extinct, who
possessed the lands of Fergushill in Ayrshire. [Records, p. 369]

In the 1851 census there is one household in Ayrshire and there are
none in Griffith's Valuation

FERGUSON, FERGUSSON

FERGUSON, Fergusson. An Anglicising of MACFERGUS, q.v. In the "Roill
of the clannis that he captanes, cheifffis and chiftanes quome on thay depend."
1587, the Fergussons are classed among the septs of Mar and Atholl (APS., III,
p.466). Auchingassyle was leased to Donald filius Fergucii, 1376 (RHM., I,
p.iv). Robert I granted certain lands in Ayrshire to Fergus, son of Fergus, and
in 1466 John Fergusson resigned a portion of his estate to Fergus Fergusson [of
Kilkerran], his son, and Janet Kennedy, his spouse. Alan Fergussii (the Latin
genetive form) was burgess of Glasgow, 1422 (LCD, p.242). Mychel Fargisone was
admitted burgess of Dunfermline, 1499 (DBR., 100). Alexander Feresoun
(=Ferguson) was one of the tenants of Estir Mecra (Easter Micras), 1539 (ER.,
XVII, p.659). James Fargusoun was put in ward for taking part in a medieval
play in Perth, 1581 (Mill, Plays, p.279). The name is widely scattered and
there is no evidence for an original connection of the Atholl, Aberdeenshire
and Ayrshire families. Robert Ferguson "the Plotter," Robert Fergusson, the
poet, and Adam Ferguson, the historian and philosopher, were amongst the most
eminent persons of the name. Farguesoun 1591, Fargusone 1501, Fergowsone 1597,
Forgusoun 1631. [George F Black. The Surnames of
Scotland.

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Ferguson

Perth 385

Lanark 211

Ayr 187

Argyll 150

Stirling 102

Fergusson

Perth 101

Ayr 64

Dumfries 57

Ireland 12

Forfar 11

Griffith's Valuation

Ferguson

Down 201

Tyrone 144

Antrim 136

Derry 95

Belfast 66

Fergusson

None

FERRIE, FARRY, FERRY

George F Black, The Surnames of Scotland, does
not take on the common Scottish name Ferry or Ferrie, which presumably often
relates to places where there were Ferry boats. But that the -s can be dropped
in Ferres seems obvious, given that it happened in Fergus-> Fergie.[Andrew Lancaster, 2007
]

Ferry is numerous in Derry. Farry numerous in Sligo and Fermanagh is
cognate with Fairy & Ferry; Ó Fearadhaigh (Fearaigh): A sept of
Cineál Conaill in Donegal. Fearadhach was a common personal name in
early times.[https://www.johngrenham.com/surnames/]

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Ferrie

Ireland 15

Lanark 12

Renfrew 6

Midlothian 4

Stirling 4

Ferry

Ireland 8

Ayr 1

Renfrew 1

Griffith's Valuation

Ferrie

Belfast 2

Down 1

Ferry

Donegal 183

Tyrone 8

Derry 3

Waterford 2

Fermanagh 2

FERRIS, FERRIES

FERRES, FERRIES, FERRIS. From (MAC)-FERRIES, q.v., or simply a
corruption of FERGUS, q.v. Old (17th century) spellings are Feres, Ferres,
Phires, Pheres, and Ferries. By local usage in Aberdeenshire Ferris is a
contraction of Ferguson (Rev. A.B. Grosart). Ferries also occurs as a
diminutive of FARQUHARSON. [George F Black. The Surnames
of Scotland. ]

Ferris - In Kerry a variant of O'Fergus. It is also traditionally a
cognomen of a branch of the Moriartys. In Ulster it is the name of a branch of
the Scottish clan Ferguson formerly MacFergus. [MacLysaght,
The Surnames of Ireland ]

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Ferris

Ireland 7

Fife 4

Aberdeen 2

Caithness 1

Lanark 1

Ferries

Aberdeen 14

Wigtown 3

Ireland 2

Banff 1

Elgin 1

Griffith's Valuation

Ferris

Down 56

Kerry 47

Antrim 41

Derry 28

Belfast 24

Ferries

None

FORGAN

Analysis of the 1851 census of Scotland reveals the name is cleary
associated with Fifeshire. The birth places of heads of household are
distributed as Fife 32, Lanark 1, Midlothian 1

FORGIE, FORGY

FORGIE. (1) may be from Forgie near Montrose. (2) a corruption of
Fergie (FERGUS), as Forgieson for FERGUSON, Alexander Forgie in Newton Stewart,
1763 (Wigtown). [George F Black. The Surnames of
Scotland. ]

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Forgie

Stirling 19

Lanark 7

West Lothian 7

Ayr 6

Aberdeen 3

Forgy

Stirling 1

Griffith's Valuation

Forgie

None

Forgy

Derry 2

Down 1

FURGESON

FURGESON. A surname in Dornoch. A corrupt form of FERGUSON, q.v
[George F Black. The Surnames of Scotland.].

There are no instances of this spelling in the 1851 census of Scotland
or in Griffith's Valuation.

FURRY

FURRY. Thomas Furry, a tenant of Cowbyre, 1463, was tenant in Grange
of Balbrogy in Angus, 1468, and James Furry was tenant in Balgreschach, 1473
(Cupar-Angus, I, p. 139, 143, 176). FURUY. John de Furuy, chaplain of the
cathedral church of Aberdeen, 1366 (REA., II, p.176).[George F Black.
The Surnames of Scotland. ]

There are only three heads of house named Furry in the 1851 census of
Scotland, two are born in Ireland and one in Renfrewshire. There are no Furry
in Griffith's valuation.

GREVSACK, GREVSACH, HARDIE, HARDY

These names are all associated with
Clan Chattan as is Farquharson.
The name Ferries occurs as a diminutive of both Farquharson and Fergusson and,
apart from a similiar pronunciation, this is as close as one can come to
connecting the Farquharson and Fergusson. It appears that the names in question
have been attached to Clan Fergusson as a result of confusing Farquharson and
Fergusson.

KEDDIE

Keddie is a Scottish name, and is a patronymic form of the Gaelic name
"MacAddie", which itself comes from the Hebrew personal name "Adam", borne,
according to Genesis, by the first man. The surname is found in the modern
idiom as Kedie, Keddy, Kiddie and Kiddy. [
The Internet Surname
Database ]

As a Fergus(s)on sept name, these names trace back to the
MacAddie in Atholl.

Surname

Top 5 Locales, Number of
Households

1851 Scotland Head ofHouse Place of Birth

Keddie

Fife 75

Peebles 10

Midlothian 7

Rosburgh 7

Edinr 2

Griffith's Valuation

Keddie

None

KIDD, KYDD

No documentation as to why Kidd or Kydd is a Fergus(s)on sept name has
been found. Probably has been confused with or is a form of Keddie as above.

MACADI, MACADIE

An alias used by the Fergusson of Balmacruchie in Strathardle

MACANGUS

An alias used by the Fergusson of Wester and Easter Cally in
Strathardle

MACDUFF, MCDUFF

"It has been supposed that a Baron Fergusson was executed for taking
part in the Gowrie conspiracy of 1600. But this appears to be a mistake, and
the true sufferer was McDuff, the Baron of Fandowie. This gentleman's aliases
have caused a good deal of confusion, which fortunately his successor, while
participating in it, has done his best to clear up. In 1602 'John Fergussone
callit Barroun Fargussone, John Fargusone in Cluny, and David, Baroun in
Fandowie,' sat together on an assize. The last, when chosen Chancellor, was
described as 'David Ferguison, Barone of Fandowie,' but when he came to
subscribe the verdict he signed in his own proper name as 'David McDuf of
Fandowy'."[Records of the Clan and Name of Fergusson,
Ferguson and Fergus, by James Ferguson and Robert Menzies Fergusson,
Edinburgh, 1895, p.39 ]

MACFERGUS, MCFERGUS

MACFERGUS, "son of Fergus," q.v., from the unaspirated form of the
name. Johannes filius Fergusii witnessed a royal charter of the lands of
Dalmakeran c. 1316-18 (Annandale, I. p.132). A charter granted in 1485 to the
abbot of Iona by consent of the Lord of the Isles and his council is witnessed
by ... Colinus Fergusii [i.e. Cailean Mac Fhearghuis], p.300). Morice
Macgillafuirgy, 1455, = Moricius Fergussi (HP., IV, p. 181, 184). M'Fargus
1575. [George F Black. The Surnames of Scotland. ]

MACINNES, MCINNES

An alias used by the Fergusson of Wester and Easter Cally in
Strathardle

In 1620 charters are granted to Angus Fergusson, alias M'Innes, in
Easter Cally, of Easter Butteris-Cally, and to Robert Fergusson, alias M'Innes,
in Wester Dalnabreck of Wester Butteris-Callie.[Records
of the Clan and Name of Fergusson, Ferguson and Fergus, by James Ferguson
and Robert Menzies Fergusson, Edinburgh, 1895, p.51 ]

MACKERRAS, MACKERRASH

Another tradition records that a family of the name of MacKerras were
originally Fergusons, and owed their origin to a Ferguson who was prescribed
for participation in ' the Forty-Five.' These Mackerrases simply adopted an
Anglicised form of the Gaehc Mac Fhearghuis, and one of them is understood to
have become a Professor in Canada. [Records, p 488]

In 1547 the lands of Stronechreiffiche in the bailliary of Cowell
were granted to Makane V'Kerris and Gillebarchane his son, and four years later
Gillebarchane was seised in the same lands (OPS., II, p.p78).

Alexander M'Kerras in Bollimenoch was denounced rebel in 1675
(HP., I, p.297), Callum McKerreis held a kerrowrane in Islay, 1686 (Bk. Islay,
p.492), and John McKerrois and Donald McKerrois were tenants in Carabollis in
the same year (ibid. p.517).

Donald Mackeroes of Glenselloch was one of those charged with part
in massacre of Lamonts at Dunoon, 1646 (Lamont, 786). Duncan M'Kerres in
Damadie, a Glenurquhay vassal, 1638 (BBT., p.403), John Bain Mc erras and
Patrick Mc erras, rebels in parish of Strachur, 1685 (Commons, p.11).

Sir Walter Scott, referring to his friend Captain (afterwards Sir)
Adam Ferguson, described him as a Highlander whose forbears were known as
"M'Erries."

The Mackerras's or Fergussons Glensellich and adjacent parts about
Strachur were an old race, and are numerous in that parish to this day (HP.,
IV, p26-27). Daniel Fergusson the last of the family who held the lands died in
1805.

MÇarish 1671, M'Herreis 1677, MacHerries 1661, McHerres
1608, McKaras and McKearass 1692, Mc Keraish 1662. herefore I have restricted
myself to forms ending with -y or -ie: with g on the one hand and without on
the other.

[George F Black. The Surnames of Scotland. ]

The are only a few heads of house by this name in the 1851 census of
Scotland. Their places of births are: Moray 2, Midlothian 1, Inverness 1

MACKERSEY, MCKERSEY

In the OPR marriages there are 7 different male MCKERSEY spanning 1785
to 1855 distributed as: 4 - Lanark, 2 - Ayr, 1- Renfrew. There are 2 male
MACKERSEY one each in Lanark and Renfrew.

There are only 3 instances of heads of house by the name MACKERSEY in
the UK census records on Ancestry.com, they all reside in England and none are
born in Scotland. When MCKERSEY is searched there are 4 instances and they are
all Scottish. In the 1861 census of Scotland the two heads of households were
born in Strathaven, Lanarkshire and in Dundee, Forfarshire.

Neither name is in the 1901 census of Ireland

MACMAGNUS, MCMAGNUS

Nobody by either name comes up in the OPR marriage records, the UK
census data on Ancestry.com or the 1901 census of Ireland . Probably a version
of MacAngus, an alias used by the Fergusson of Wester and Easter Cally in
Strathardle.

MACTAVERT, MCTAVERT

Nobody by either name comes up in the OPR marriage records, the UK
census data on Ancestry.com or the 1901 census of Ireland

O'FARRELLY

The O'Clery Book of Genealogies states that
O'Fergus of Rossinver and
O'Farrelly of Drumlane are said to be descended from Ailill son of Eoghan.

O'FARYS, VARGIS, VARGUS

The late Bishop of Achonry and secretary to the hierarchy was Dr.
James Fergus. O'Farys etc., was also in Co. Wexford in 1659 and is still there,
but as Vargus and Vargis, until quite recently used interchangeably with
Ferguson. [Irish surname
search]

VERGUSON

SPELLING VARIANTS

One tool for searching databases with spelling variations real or due
to transcription error is
NameX. For the name
FERGUSON here are the resultant "close" and "all" list returned by NameX. Also
included are wildcard spellings that will capture all the names below.